Illinois Federation of TeachersNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Illinois Federation of TeachersSat, 15 Apr 2017 03:45:23 +0000Illinois Federation of Teachershttp://peoriapublicradio.org
Dusty RhodesProfessors at the University of Illinois Springfield could go on strike. That’s the result of a vote this week by United Faculty, a chapter of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Kristi Barnwell , a history professor and vice-president of the faculty union, says the vote doesn’t necessarily mean they will strike. “We’re still hoping that we don’t have to, and that the university’s administration will make some meaningful progress in negotiations at our next bargaining session," she says. "But we needed to let them know that the option is on the table, and our membership is ready if it comes down to that.” Potential Picket By Professors at UIShttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/potential-picket-professors-uis
73524 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgFri, 14 Apr 2017 22:27:00 +0000Potential Picket By Professors at UISAssociated PressIllinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's strategy for fending off potential Democratic challengers includes stressing the bright spots while blaming others for the things going wrong. As a Republican in a solidly Democratic state, the wealthy former businessman would've been one of the country's most endangered GOP incumbents even under the best of circumstances. Adding to his task are a record state budget impasse and a dispute with Illinois' largest public-employee union.With Eye on 2018, Illinois Governor Says 'Don't Blame Me'http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/eye-2018-illinois-governor-says-dont-blame-me
70140 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgThu, 26 Jan 2017 23:04:08 +0000With Eye on 2018, Illinois Governor Says 'Don't Blame Me'Associated PressThe Illinois Labor Relations Board has certified a new faculty union at Northern Illinois University. The new union will be called the United Faculty Alliance of Northern Illinois University. The group filed its intent to unionize in April.State agency certifies faculty union at Northern Illinoishttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/state-agency-certifies-faculty-union-northern-illinois
60330 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgThu, 16 Jun 2016 19:26:38 +0000State agency certifies faculty union at Northern IllinoisAmanda VinickyUnion leaders say Governor Bruce Rauner's move to end negotiations with Illinois' largest state employees union is frustrating and capricious. On Friday ... Rauner announced that he was seeking an impasse in talks with AFSCME after roughly a year of talks. Public school teachers aren't directly affected. But Dan Montgomery -- who heads the Illinois Federation of Teachers -- says some of its members do work for the state. Mongtomery says it was a knock to labor, especially given that it happened heading into Martin Luther King weekend. "Martin Luther King was killed going down to Memphis, Tennessee to do what? To stand with public employees - garbage, sanitation workers -- who were striking in Memphis ... You know 40 years later or so ... we're in an environment where the governor of Illinois is just using public employees, casting such disrespect on public employees, and you just shake your head." But Republican leaders are sticking with Rauner. The top Republican in the Senate --State employee union criticizes Rauner over negotiationshttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/state-employee-union-criticizes-rauner-over-negotiations
53345 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgTue, 19 Jan 2016 00:13:01 +0000State employee union criticizes Rauner over negotiationsAssociated PressGov. Bruce Rauner says public school teachers who aren't union members shouldn't have to pay union fees - the same policy he's tried to enforce among state government workers.Rauner: Stop 'fair share' fees for non-union teachershttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/rauner-stop-fair-share-fees-non-union-teachers
39931 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgWed, 22 Apr 2015 19:00:18 +0000Rauner: Stop 'fair share' fees for non-union teachersHannah MeiselGovernor Bruce Rauner has long blamed Illinois' pension systems for the state's budget woes. He not only says public employee unions have too much power in negotiating pension deals, but also that the nature of the plan itself -- defined benefit -- is fiscally irresponsible.IFT responds to Rauner's budgethttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/ift-responds-rauners-budget
36733 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgThu, 19 Feb 2015 12:39:41 +0000IFT responds to Rauner's budgetDeborah OldenkampMost Illinois school districts have all-day kindergarten classes. A proposal before the Illinois House would require all districts to have such programs. But funding issues are getting in the way. The Illinois Federation of Teachers says nearly 90-percent of school districts have all-day kindergarten but that leaves 80 districts without. Representative Chris Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, says improving early education means students would be better-prepared for secondary education. "It's difficult to raise test scores when you're focusing on getting kids up to the basics. When you're getting kids at high school level reading at third, fourth, fifth grade level, the problem's not at the high school. The problem's in the early years," says Welch. But Welch admits he has no ideas for how to fund all-day kindergarten in every districts. He says he may will likely hold off calling his plan for a vote until next year as he tries to come up with a way to pay for it. Already, the governor'sKindergarten bill before IL Househttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/kindergarten-bill-il-house
4787 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgMon, 29 Apr 2013 20:27:57 +0000Kindergarten bill before IL House